The TNA Heat sixth-grade basketball team finished second at the Battle of the South Classic in Jackson, Mississippi.

TNA Heat went 5-2 in the tournament that featured teams from Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee. Leading the team in scoring for the tournament were Erick Smith (58 points), Miles Hannah (52 points), Derrick Smith (38 points), Joshua Davis (34 points) and Titus Lanier Jr. (19 points).

TNA Heat coach Marcus Hannah said Lanier hit crucial free throws down the stretch and praised the efforts of DeMarcus Milhouse and Tristan Wall. Titus Lanier Sr. is TNA Heat assistant coach.

“Coach Titus and I are proud of our young men for representing Selma and Dallas County,” Hannah said.

Other members of TNA Heat are: Omari Smith, Le’Marcus Milhouse, Tristen Wall, Jordan Lamar, Jarius Barnes, Ja’Nygol Rivers, Jessie Wilder and Myles Nix.

Hannah said he’s grateful for the assistance of both Wallace Community College-Selma President Dr. James Mitchell and Executive Dean of Student Services & Instruction Dr. Donitha Griffin.

“I want to thank Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Griffin for allowing us to use the WCCS facility to train young men and women,” Hannah said. “We have several AAU teams which has local students in the city and county school system that they allow the coaches to train their athletes.”

Hannah said several mentors helped him stay off the streets and eventually led to his becoming a role model for local youth and successfully coaching AAU basketball.

“As a young man coming from a single parent home, there were men in the community that gave their time, money or resources to help me in my life,” Hannah said. “Men such as James Booth, Elton Reese, Sonny Bennett, A.A. Sewell, Willie Maxey, Albert Southall, John Solomon, Herman Turner and many more.”

Hannah said he’s sending out an invitation to the men in Dallas County to assist him with guiding the youth.

“What I’m asking for men in our community is to come out and give their time, money or resources to organizations like the Police Athletic League, YMCA, city Rec and church youth organizations because as men if we don’t step up and be a part in our community like the men I mentioned above, we will perish,” Hannah said. “I want to thank the men and women who donate their time, money or resources to keep making a difference in our children’s lives. It’s much needed in the Selma and Dallas County areas.”